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{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1943)}}
{{unreferenced|date=May 2008}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFLretired
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image=Replace this image male.svg <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see [[WP:NONFREE]] --> |
|name=Emmitt Thomas
|name= Emmitt Thomas
|image=
||caption=
|caption= Thomas in 1972
|width=
|current_team=
|Color=#bd0d18
|position= [[Cornerback]]
|fontcolor=black
|position=[[Cornerback]]
|number=18
|number=18
|birthdate={{birth date and age|1943|6|3}}<BR>[[Angleton, Texas]]
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1943|6|3}}
|birth_place=[[Angleton, Texas]], U.S.
|death_date=
|deathdate=
|height_ft= 6
|debutyear=1966
|height_in= 2
|finalyear=1978
|weight_lbs= 192
|college=[[Bishop College|Bishop]]
|undraftedyear=1966
|teams=<nowiki></nowiki><!--This forces MediaWiki to recognize the first bullet. Kind of a workaround to a bug.-->
|high_school=[[Angleton High School|Marshall]] (Angleton, Texas)
'''Playing career'''
|college=[[Bishop Tigers football|Bishop]]
* [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ([[1966 AFL season|1966]]-[[1978 NFL season|1978]])
|pastteams=
'''Coaching career'''
* [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ([[1966 AFL season|1966]]–[[1978 NFL season|1978]])
* [[Central Missouri State University|Central Missouri State]] (1979-1980)
|pastcoaching=
* [[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]] (1981-1985)
* [[Central Missouri Mules and Jennies|Central Missouri State]] (1979–1980)
* [[Washington Redskins]] (1986-1994)
* [[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1981}}–{{NFL Year|1985}})<br>Assistant coach
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] (1995-1998)
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1986}}–{{NFL Year|1994}})<br>Wide receivers coach & defensive backs coach
* [[Green Bay Packers]] (1999)
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|1995}}–{{NFL Year|1998}})<br>Defensive coordinator
* [[Minnesota Vikings]] (2000-2001)
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|1999}})<br>Defensive coordinator
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] (2002-present)
* [[Minnesota Vikings]] ({{NFL Year|2000}}–{{NFL Year|2001}})<br>Defensive coordinator
|stat1label=[[Interception (football)|INT]]
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2009}})<br>Assistant head coach & defensive backs coach
|stat1value=58
* Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2007}})<br>Interim head coach
|stat2label=[[Interception (football)|INT]] yards
* [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2018}})<br>Defensive backs coach
|stat2value=937
|highlights=
|stat3label=[[Touchdowns]]
;As a player
|stat3value=5
* [[Super Bowl]] champion ([[Super Bowl IV|IV]])
* [[AFL champion]] ([[1966 American Football League Championship Game|1966]])
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1974 All-Pro Team|1974]], [[1975 All-Pro Team|1975]])
* 2× Second-team All-Pro ([[1969 All-Pro Team|1969]], [[1971 All-Pro Team|1971]])
* 5× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1969 Pro Bowl|1968]], [[1972 Pro Bowl|1971]], [[1971 Pro Bowl|1972]], [[1975 Pro Bowl|1974]], [[1976 Pro Bowl|1975]])
* [[List of National Football League season interception leaders|NFL interceptions leader]] (1974)
* [[List of National Football League season interception leaders|AFL interceptions leader]] (1969)
* [[Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame]]
* [[Kansas City Chiefs#Retired numbers|Kansas City Chiefs No. 18]] retired
;As a coach
* 2× [[Super Bowl]] champion ([[Super Bowl XXII|XXII]], [[Super Bowl XXVI|XXVI]])
|statlabel1=[[Interception]]s
|statvalue1=58
|statlabel2=Interception yards
|statvalue2=937
|statlabel3=[[Touchdown]]s
|statvalue3=5
|nfl=THO145488
|nfl=THO145488
|HOF=emmitt-thomas
|highlights=<nowiki></nowiki>
|pfr=T/ThomEm00
* 5x [[Pro Bowl]] selection ([[1969 Pro Bowl|1968]], [[1972 Pro Bowl|1971]], [[1971 Pro Bowl|1972]], [[1975 Pro Bowl|1974]], [[1976 Pro Bowl|1975]])
|pfrcoach=ThomEm0
* 3x [[All-Pro]] selection (1971, 1974, 1975)
|coachregrecord={{Winning percentage|1|2|record=y}}}}
* 3x [[Super Bowl]] champion ([[Super Bowl IV|IV]], [[Super Bowl XXII|XXII]], [[Super Bowl XXVI|XXVI]])
'''Emmitt Earl Thomas'''<ref name="ProFootballReference.com">{{Cite web |title=Emmitt Thomas Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThomEm00.htm |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> (born June 3, 1943)<ref name="nfl.com/players">{{cite web|title=Thomas on nfl.com |work=nfl.com |url=http://www.nfl.com/players/emmittthomas/profile?id=THO145488 |access-date=December 15, 2007}}</ref> is a former [[American football]] coach and [[cornerback]]. He most recently served as the defensive backs coach for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played in college at the now defunct [[Bishop College]]. He played professionally for the Chiefs of the NFL.<ref name=AtlantaFalcons.com>{{cite web|title=Thomas on Atlanta Falcons.com |work=atlantafalcons.com |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Coaches/Emmitt_Thomas.aspx |access-date=December 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214051942/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Coaches/Emmitt_Thomas.aspx |archive-date=December 14, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He owns the [[Kansas City Chiefs|Chiefs]] all-time interception record with 58, which places him ninth on pro football's all-time list.<ref name="AtlantaFalcons.com"/> Thomas was inducted to the NFL's Pro Football Hall of Fame after being nominated by the Seniors Committee.<ref>Kansas City Star February 2, 2008</ref> He won [[Super Bowl IV]] as a player with the Chiefs and [[Super Bowl XXII]] and [[Super Bowl XXVI]] as an assistant coach with the [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]].
* [[Kansas_City_Chiefs#Chiefs_Hall_of_Fame|Chiefs Hall of Fame]]

* Kansas City Chiefs Career Interception Leader with 58
|HOF=270
|CollegeHOF=
}}
'''Emmitt Earl Thomas''' <ref name=ProFootballReference.com>{{cite web|title=Thomas on Pro-Football-Reference |work=rbref.com |url=http://www.rbref.com/players/T/ThomEm00.htm |accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref> (born [[June 3]], [[1943]]) <ref name=nfl.com/players>{{cite web|title=Thomas on nfl.com |work=nfl.com |url=http://www.nfl.com/players/emmittthomas/profile?id=THO145488 |accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref> is the assistant head coach and secondary coach of the [[National Football League]]'s [[Atlanta Falcons]]. He is a former college and professional [[American football|football]] player who played for the [[American Football League]]'s [[Kansas City Chiefs]] from 1966 to 1969, and then for the Chiefs in the NFL from 1970 to 1978. <ref name=AtlantaFalcons.com>{{cite web|title=Thomas on Atlanta Falcons.com |work=atlantafalcons.com |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Coaches/Emmitt_Thomas.aspx |accessdate=2007-12-17}}</ref> He owns the [[Kansas City Chiefs|Chiefs]] all-time interception record with 58, which places him ninth on pro football's all-time list.<ref name=AtlantaFalcons.com>{{cite web|title=Thomas on Atlanta Falcons.com |work=atlantafalcons.com |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Coaches/Emmitt_Thomas.aspx |accessdate=2007-12-17}}</ref> Thomas was elected to the NFL's Pro Football Hall of Fame after being nominated by the Seniors Committee.<ref>Kansas City Star February 2, 2008</ref> Thomas is the thirteenth Chief player elected to the Hall of Fame, joining (majority of career Hall of Famers) [[Len Dawson]], [[Buck Buchanan]], [[Bobby Bell]], [[Willie Lanier]], [[Jan Stenerud]], [[Marcus Allen]], coach [[Hank Stram]], founder/owner [[Lamar Hunt]] (minor portion of career Hall of Famers), [[Joe Montana]], [[Warren Moon]], [[Mike Webster]], and coach [[Marv Levy]].
==Playing career==
==Playing career==
Thomas made the Chiefs team as an undrafted free agent from [[Bishop College]] in [[Dallas]].<ref name=AtlantaFalcons.com>{{cite web|title=Thomas on Atlanta Falcons.com |work=atlantafalcons.com |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Coaches/Emmitt_Thomas.aspx |accessdate=2007-12-17}}</ref>
Thomas made the Chiefs team as an undrafted free agent from [[Bishop College]] in [[Dallas]];<ref name="AtlantaFalcons.com"/>
Thomas was an [[American Football League All-Star games|AFL All-Star]] in 1968 and made the NFL's AFC-NFC [[Pro Bowl]] 4 times (1971, 1972, 1973, 1975) after the Chiefs joined the NFL in the 1970 [[AFL-NFL Merger]]. He was also selected All-Pro 3 times.
he was an [[American Football League All-Star games|AFL All-Star]] in 1968 and made the NFL's AFC-NFC [[Pro Bowl]] four times (1971, 1972, 1974, 1975) after the Chiefs joined the NFL in the 1970 [[AFL-NFL Merger]]. He was also selected All-Pro three times.
In the 1969 season, he led all pro football with 9 interceptions, which he returned for 146 yards and a touchdown, helping his team win the AFL Championship and the fourth and last [[Professional American football championship games|AFL-NFL World Championship Game]], which the Chiefs won 23-7 over the NFL champion Vikings. Thomas recorded an interception in the Kansas City victory. In 1974, Thomas led the NFL in interceptions (12), return yards (214), and return touchdowns (2).
In the 1969 season, he led all pro football with 9 interceptions, which he returned for 146 yards and a touchdown, helping his team win the AFL Championship and the fourth and last [[Professional American football championship games|AFL-NFL World Championship Game]], which the Chiefs won 23-7 over the NFL champion Vikings. Thomas recorded an interception in the Kansas City victory. In 1974, he led the NFL in interceptions (12), return yards (214), and return touchdowns (2).


Thomas retired from playing after thirteen seasons; he finished his pro football career with 58 interceptions, which he returned for 937 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also recovered 4 fumbles, gained 64 yards returning punts, and returned 29 kickoffs for 673 yards. He played in 181 career games, tying for the 5th-most in club annals, and his 58 interceptions are a franchise record.
Thomas retired from playing after 13 seasons; he finished his pro football career with 58 interceptions, which he returned for 937 yards and five touchdowns. He also recovered four fumbles, gained 64 yards returning punts, and returned 29 kickoffs for 673 yards. He played in 181 career games, tying for the fifth-most in club annals, and his 58 interceptions are a franchise record.


Thomas was inducted to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2008. He was officially inducted at the Enshrinement Ceremony where his bust, sculpted by [[Scott Myers]], was unveiled on August 2, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/years.aspx|title=Years - Hall of Famers - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site|website=www.profootballhof.com}}</ref>
Thomas was voted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] on [[February 2]] [[2008]] and will be inducted on [[August 2]], [[2008]].


==Coaching career==
==Coaching career==
Thomas has been an assistant coach in the NFL since 1981. Before being named interim head coach of the [[Atlanta Falcons]] on December 12, 2007 after the resignation of [[Bobby Petrino]], Thomas was the Falcons' Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary Coach. After Petrino's sudden departure left the team in shambles, Thomas attempted to unite the Atlanta locker room, and was able to lead the Falcons to a season-ending victory over the [[Seattle Seahawks]]. On January 24, 2008, new Falcons head coach [[Mike Smith (football coach)|Mike Smith]] announced that Thomas would remain on staff as assistant head coach. Thomas was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with [[Darrell Green]] and [[Art Monk]], two players he coached during Super Bowl runs with the [[Washington Redskins]]. On January 13, 2010, his contract expired and was not renewed by the Falcons.
{{Expand|date=December 2007}}

Thomas has been an NFL assistant for six teams in the last 26 years. Before being named interim head coach of the [[Atlanta Falcons]] on [[December 12]], [[2007]] after the resignation of [[Bobby Petrino]], Thomas was the Falcons' Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary Coach. After Petrino's sudden departure left the team in shambles, Thomas attempted to unite the Atlanta locker room, and was able to lead the Falcons to a season-ending victory over the [[Seattle Seahawks]]. On [[January 24]], [[2008]], new Falcons head coach [[Mike Smith (football coach)|Mike Smith]] announced that Thomas would remain on staff as assistant head coach. Thomas was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with Darrell Green and Art Monk, two players he coached during Super Bowl runs with the Washington Redskins.
On February 1, 2010, he was hired as the secondary coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. On February 12, 2019, Thomas announced his retirement from coaching.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chiefs Defensive Backs Coach Emmitt Thomas to Retire after Coaching 38 NFL Seasons |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-defensive-backs-coach-emmitt-thomas-to-retire-after-coaching-38-nfl-seaso |website=Chiefs.com}}</ref>

===Head coaching record===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Won !!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Result
|-
![[2007 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]*||[[2007 NFL season|2007]]
|1||3||0||{{winpct|1|3}}||4th in NFC South|| – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"|Total ||1||3||0||{{winpct|1|3}}||colspan="5"|
|}

<nowiki>*</nowiki>''Interim head coach.''


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Thomas resides in [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. He married Jacqueline Heafley in 1983, and they remained married until her death on August 21, 2017. He has one son, [[Derek Thomas (coach)|Derek]], and one daughter, Dedra, from a previous marriage with ex-wife Dianne Thomas. Derek now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, doing numerous coaching jobs. Dedra Thomas is currently a legal nurse consultant in Angleton, TX. Thomas has a total of eight grandkids: Keydron, Keynan, Kierrah, Kyandria, Bailey, Samantha, Jade and Shane.
Thomas and his wife, Jacqui, reside in [[Suwanee, Georgia]]. They have two grown children. Their son [[Derek Thomas|Derek]] is the former head basketball coach at [[Western Illinois University]].

==See also==
* [[List of American Football League players]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==See also==
==External links==
* {{Profootballhof|id=270|name=Emmitt Thomas}}
*[[List of American Football League players|Other American Football League players]]
{{start box}}
{{succession box | title=[[Atlanta Falcons]] Head Coach (interim) | before=[[Bobby Petrino]] | years=2007 | after=[[Mike Smith (American football)|Mike Smith]]}}
{{end box}}


{{Navboxes
{{Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame}}
| title = Emmitt Thomas—awards, championships, and honors
| list =
{{Atlanta Falcons coach navbox}}
{{1966 Kansas City Chiefs}}
{{Super Bowl IV}}
{{Super Bowl IV}}
{{Super Bowl XXII}}
{{Super Bowl XXII}}
{{Super Bowl XXVI}}
{{Super Bowl XXVI}}
{{American Football League season interception leaders}}
{{FalconsCoach}}
{{NFL season interception leaders}}
{{Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame}}
{{Chiefs Retired Numbers}}
{{2008 Football HOF}}
{{2008 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}

}}
==External links==
*http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=270
*http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/472597.html Kansas City Star, February 2, 2008


{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Emmitt}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Emmitt}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:AFL All-Star players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African American coaches]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons coaches]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons coaches]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons head coaches]]
[[Category:Bishop Tigers football players]]
[[Category:Central Missouri Mules football coaches]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers coaches]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers coaches]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs (AFL) players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Minnesota Vikings coaches]]
[[Category:Undrafted National Football League players]]
[[Category:National Football League defensive coordinators]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) coaches]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Star players]]
[[Category:National Football League players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:People from Angleton, Texas]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Brazoria County, Texas]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins coaches]]
[[Category:African-American coaches of American football]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs coaches]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]

Revision as of 18:42, 25 February 2024

Emmitt Thomas
No. 18
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1943-06-03) June 3, 1943 (age 81)
Angleton, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:Marshall (Angleton, Texas)
College:Bishop
Undrafted:1966
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
As a player
As a coach
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:58
Interception yards:937
Touchdowns:5
Head coaching record
Regular season:1–2 (.333)
Player stats at PFR
Coaching stats at PFR

Emmitt Earl Thomas[1] (born June 3, 1943)[2] is a former American football coach and cornerback. He most recently served as the defensive backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played in college at the now defunct Bishop College. He played professionally for the Chiefs of the NFL.[3] He owns the Chiefs all-time interception record with 58, which places him ninth on pro football's all-time list.[3] Thomas was inducted to the NFL's Pro Football Hall of Fame after being nominated by the Seniors Committee.[4] He won Super Bowl IV as a player with the Chiefs and Super Bowl XXII and Super Bowl XXVI as an assistant coach with the Washington Redskins.

Playing career

Thomas made the Chiefs team as an undrafted free agent from Bishop College in Dallas;[3] he was an AFL All-Star in 1968 and made the NFL's AFC-NFC Pro Bowl four times (1971, 1972, 1974, 1975) after the Chiefs joined the NFL in the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger. He was also selected All-Pro three times. In the 1969 season, he led all pro football with 9 interceptions, which he returned for 146 yards and a touchdown, helping his team win the AFL Championship and the fourth and last AFL-NFL World Championship Game, which the Chiefs won 23-7 over the NFL champion Vikings. Thomas recorded an interception in the Kansas City victory. In 1974, he led the NFL in interceptions (12), return yards (214), and return touchdowns (2).

Thomas retired from playing after 13 seasons; he finished his pro football career with 58 interceptions, which he returned for 937 yards and five touchdowns. He also recovered four fumbles, gained 64 yards returning punts, and returned 29 kickoffs for 673 yards. He played in 181 career games, tying for the fifth-most in club annals, and his 58 interceptions are a franchise record.

Thomas was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He was officially inducted at the Enshrinement Ceremony where his bust, sculpted by Scott Myers, was unveiled on August 2, 2008.[5]

Coaching career

Thomas has been an assistant coach in the NFL since 1981. Before being named interim head coach of the Atlanta Falcons on December 12, 2007 after the resignation of Bobby Petrino, Thomas was the Falcons' Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary Coach. After Petrino's sudden departure left the team in shambles, Thomas attempted to unite the Atlanta locker room, and was able to lead the Falcons to a season-ending victory over the Seattle Seahawks. On January 24, 2008, new Falcons head coach Mike Smith announced that Thomas would remain on staff as assistant head coach. Thomas was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with Darrell Green and Art Monk, two players he coached during Super Bowl runs with the Washington Redskins. On January 13, 2010, his contract expired and was not renewed by the Falcons.

On February 1, 2010, he was hired as the secondary coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. On February 12, 2019, Thomas announced his retirement from coaching.[6]

Head coaching record

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
ATL* 2007 1 3 0 .250 4th in NFC South – – – –
Total 1 3 0 .250

*Interim head coach.

Personal life

Thomas resides in Kansas City, Missouri. He married Jacqueline Heafley in 1983, and they remained married until her death on August 21, 2017. He has one son, Derek, and one daughter, Dedra, from a previous marriage with ex-wife Dianne Thomas. Derek now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, doing numerous coaching jobs. Dedra Thomas is currently a legal nurse consultant in Angleton, TX. Thomas has a total of eight grandkids: Keydron, Keynan, Kierrah, Kyandria, Bailey, Samantha, Jade and Shane.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Emmitt Thomas Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  2. ^ "Thomas on nfl.com". nfl.com. Retrieved December 15, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c "Thomas on Atlanta Falcons.com". atlantafalcons.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
  4. ^ Kansas City Star February 2, 2008
  5. ^ "Years - Hall of Famers - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". www.profootballhof.com.
  6. ^ "Chiefs Defensive Backs Coach Emmitt Thomas to Retire after Coaching 38 NFL Seasons". Chiefs.com.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emmitt_Thomas&oldid=1210251455"